CHAPTER CXLVIII.
SHOWS HOW TODD HAD A VERY NARROW ESCAPE INDEED.
There was something in the tone of Crotchet that made the magistrate confident he suspected something very peculiar, and he followed him without a word.
The track or trail upon the ground was very peculiar, it was broad and defined, and had turned in the direction that it went every little weed or blade of grass that was within its boundaries. A number of decayed leaves from the forest trees had likewise been swept along it; and the more any one might look at it the more they must feel convinced that something heavy had been dragged along it.
What that something heavy was, Mr. Crotchet had his suspicions, and they were right.
"This way, your worship," he said, "this way; it goes right into this hedge as nicely as possible, though the branches of these bushes are placed all smooth again."
As he spoke, Crotchet began to beat the obstructing branches of a wild nut tree and a blackberry-bush, that seemed, by their entwining arms, to have struck up a very close sort of acquaintance with each other; and then he suddenly cried out—
"Here it is, sir."
"What, Crotchet?"
"The dead 'un."
"Dead! You don't mean to say that one such is here, and that the dead body of Todd is in the thicket?"